Melanie Dixon never
thought she would find herself divorced, pregnant, and living back with
her parents in Indigo Bay. Not one to let misfortune get the best of
her, she picks up the broken pieces of her life and bit by bit puts them
back together. She’s determined to go it alone, but her loving and
equally determined family and friends have another idea.
Enter
Declan Shaw, the boy next door from long ago. The boy she wasn’t quite
ready to commit forever to at eighteen. Back in Indigo Bay due to a
recent job promotion, Declan sees this as a second chance to reunite
with the girl who has owned his heart since the day they met in their
junior year of high school. But Melanie is a tougher sell on the idea
than he thought she would be. Now it’s up to him to prove to Melanie
that she can trust him with her heart and that he’s the man she and her
baby deserve.
Will the regret and hurt of the past win out? Or will love prevail?
My Review
I love this author's writing style. It's easy to get into the head of the main character, even when she is very different from myself. Melanie has had a difficult past, and is ready to work to make a new future- sans men. Declan is pretty much too good to be true, and it takes Melanie time to get used to the idea of reconciling with him. I loved seeing them together as they rebuilt their friendship and more, great chemistry :)
(I purchased a copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
After a year of grieving
her divorce and living a life permanently stuck on pause, Laila
Richardson is finally ready to have her own happy ending. Then a listing
for a quaint cottage in another town answers her prayers for a fresh
beginning—one that will bring her closer to her new boyfriend, Ben.
Unfortunately, in her small town of Fairfield, Georgia, letting go of
the past is virtually impossible. No one wants to see her move on,
including the man who destroyed her heart to begin with.
Chad
Richardson has spent years in misery but finally has his life on
somewhat stable ground. When he learns his ex-wife is dating, he knows
it’s time to go back and fight for the life he abandoned. Bolstered by
his newfound sobriety, Chad has every intention of winning back the
woman he loves, even if that means facing old demons that are waiting
for him to fail.
Passions run deep as two souls searching for a
second chance find the courage to let go of old patterns. Can they
recognize that their dreams are still possible, even when forged from a
broken past?
My Review
This is a great follow up novel to My Hope Next Door. I highly recommend reading that book first. In both books there is a powerful theme of redemption and forgiveness. There is a trio of friends who have promised loyalty to each other since childhood, and they grow into adulthood together with neglectful or dysfunctional families as the result of addiction and substance abuse. Katie and Chad have been best friends and understand the darkness in each other, and Laila is Chad's girlfriend and love of his life. Katie and Chad fall into the cycle of substance abuse, and the first book shows Katie's path out of addiction and into a new life with God as the center. This book continues where that one left off, and tells Chad's story of recovery and his struggle to win Laila back when she starts to make a new life for herself. While there are dark and heavy issues explored, there is a current of hope that emerges as Laila and Chad begin to finally communicate and share long-held secrets. It takes time to build trust again, and I was rooting for them even when they were too discouraged in themselves. Plenty of angst and drama, but also romantic moments and sweet fun interactions as the two soul mates find their way back to each other and themselves despite overwhelming obstacles.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
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After tirelessly
climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane
Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about
her brother draws her back home--a quaint tourist town full of memories
she'd just as soon forget. With her cell phone and laptop always within
reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on
work--something her eclectic family doesn't understand.
Ryan
Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but
after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home.
Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the
struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once
loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren't ideal.
Their
reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can't find a
trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly
chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide
with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. Facing a
crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his
relationship with the surrogate family he's found in the Kelleys, Ryan
hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in
front of her all along--if only she'd just look up.
My Review
The title of this book is absolutely perfect! The story portrays a powerful theme of the importance of looking up from technology or the busyness of the daily grind to cultivate our relationships with those around us, appreciate the beauty of life, and take time for peaceful moments. A deeper theme is looking up to God for help with accomplishing this, even through our struggles and difficult times.
Lane is flawed but easy to relate to. She has many hurts from her growing up years and is extremely vulnerable- so much so that she left town at the first chance and never looked back. She sacrificed her relationships in order to forget her past, but in reality it shapes who she is and affects her choices. The author skillfully reveals various details gradually, keeping me curious and full of anticipation as I read. I feel like I connected more with Brooks, who used a never-ending positive attitude to cope with his insecurities and trials. He and Lane had great romantic chemistry and tension, and I loved seeing him charm and tease her into smiling and lifting her mood. I enjoyed the different phases of Lane and Brooks journey as they deal with pressure and stress from work and learn important lessons from each other. There are so many details I loved in this book but I don't want to share any spoilers, so I'll just say, this is such a great book! Highly recommend!!!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Extras
I love the book trailer!
* Stay tuned for my interview with author Courtney Walsh! *